G.J. Gardner Homes Hobart West have been supporting their tree planting projects since 2015 and have to date helped us plant 3,510 native trees and shrubs in their local area. This year, the trees were planted by the Okines Community Garden Volunteers and Southern Beaches Landcare Volunteers at Dodges Ferry, TAS. Mumirimina People are the traditional custodians of this land.

Dodges Ferry is a grassy woodland that was previously cleared. It was and still is, dominated by White Gums.  The revegetation project will increase wildlife corridors and habitat for local fauna and flora to thrive as well as increase biodiversity. This will have positive impacts particularly on local bandicoot, bettong, frog, wren, honey eater, echidna and blue-tongued lizard populations.

The plants that were provided by G.J. Gardner Homes will provide a major boost to biodiversity of fauna and flora in the area. It has also inspired the community to plant natives in their own backyard, greening our local suburbs and attracting local wildlife. Okines would like to say a big thanks to G.J. Gardner Homes.

Kristian |  Coordinator |Okines Community Garden

Re-vegetating waterways will filter the storm water that comes down the catchment and slow the flow of water to reduce erosion and drop out any sediment. Reducing sediment that enters the ocean will reduce impact on local ocean ecosystems.

Large trees such as White and Peppermint Gums, small heath and local herbs for understory, small shrubs and native grasses for habitat for local fauna such as bandicoots, small trees for local birds such as honey eaters and wrens, sedges for local water ways and to plant safely around waste water systems and local flowering natives such as paper daisy’s for local bee populations.

G.J. Gardner prides itself on being a practical, hands-on family affair, and in past years staff have happily gone out with their local community to plant their trees themselves. To keep the local connection, all trees are planted near the offices managing the builds, between 200-900 trees for every district. Local Landcare groups determine the best tree species for the site. The seedlings themselves are often grown by local independent nurseries who have collected seed from the region by hand (with the proper licensing, of course). The sites that have been planted have included nature reserves, parklands, roadsides, school grounds, riverbanks & rural properties.

G.J. Gardner’s core business is building homes. Safe, secure places for families to grow and thrive for many years to come. We love that alongside this G.J. Gardner is planting forests, which is very much the same thing; safe, secure places for fauna and flora to grow and thrive for many years to come.

If you would like to know more about sponsoring community tree planting projects and how we can assist you in becoming a more sustainable business, please contact Colleen at <[email protected]>.

Writer: Colleen Filippa

With a background in Environmental Science, Colleen is the Founding Director of Fifteen Trees. In 2009, after 20 years in primary, secondary and tertiary education institutions, Colleen left the classroom to start the company. Fifteen Trees is a social enterprise assisting individuals and companies to reduce their carbon footprint by supporting community groups such as Landcare, schools and environmental networks.